Electric railway.



' No. 685,242. Patented Oct. 29,1901.

' B. ABNU &. A. CABAMAGNA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Applicntion filed. Apr. 21, 1897.

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Patonted Oct. 29, l90l. R. ARNO &. A. CARAMAGNA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

(Applicntion filed Apr. 21, 1897.)

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(IolndoL) UNITE STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

RICOARDO ARNO AND ARISTIDE CARAMAGNA, OF TURIN, ITALY.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

{SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,242, dated October 29, 1901.

Application filed April 21, 1897. Serial No. 638,196. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccrn' Be it known that We, RIOOARDO ARNO and ARISTIDE CARAMAGNA, subjects of the King of Italy, residing at Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railways; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

1 This invention has relation to electric railways, and more particularly to those systems in which an underground electric feeder, sectional conductors, and electromagnetic circuit-closers are used, the invention having for its special object certain improvements in the electromagnetic circuit-closing devices, whereby the latter are made very sensitive to magnetic influence and whereby the cfficien cy and durability of said devices are greatly increased, as will now be more fully described byreferring to the drawings, in which Figures 1 to 4 are longitudinal sections of the improved electromagnetic circuit-closers embodying our invention and illustrating various arrangements of contacts. Fig. 5 is a part side elevation and part longitudinal vertical section of a circuit-closer such as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, together with the support therefor and the preferred means for connecting one of the circuit-closing contacts with the underground feeder, Fig. 6 being a sectional view of said connections drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the circuit-closer shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 8 being a part end elevation and part vertical section thereof, illustrating the magnetic connections between the circuit-closer and the track-rails. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the road-bed of an underground electric railway, illustrating the magnetic connections between the circuit-closer and trackrails and the electric connections between said circuitcloser and the underground feeder, Fig. 10 being a detail view.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4:, the electromagnetic circuit-closer comprises, essentially, a field or fixed magnet and avibrating or oscillating armature of peculiar construction and an electric contact controlled by the armature and cooperating with another contact, fixed or movable, to close the electric circuit.

The field or fixed magnet in our invention is constructed in the form of a box A, adapted to be hermetically closed by means of a cover K, both made of magnetic material and magnetically insulated from each other by a diamagnetic body or gasket I, which we have shown in the drawings as. U-shaped, though it may be of other shape, the cover K being secured to the box by bolts 70 7c, also of a diamagnetic material, so that the two will be magneticallyinsulated from, but electrically connected with, each other. In the under side of the cover K and in the upper face of the bottom of the boxA are formed two concave recesses or pole-faces N N and S S,which symbols also indicate the polarity of said faces, and will hereinafter be referred to as the field-1nagnet,or,for short, the box-poles. In the box is secured a shaft or spindle O, on which is loosely mounted an armature A, that is Z-shaped and of magnetic material, while the said shaft 0 is of a diamagnetic material. The pole-pieces S and N of the armature A have convex pole faces corresponding with the box-pole; but the shaft 0 is so located relatively to the last-named poles that the armature-poles will not be concentric with the box-poles except when said armature is in a given positiont'. 6., when attracted by a magnetic flux set up in the box-- or, in other words, the armature-poles are segments of circles symmetrically arranged to their axis of rotation and whose generatrices are parallel relatively to said axis of rotation, while the directrices of said segments form arcs of circles, the concave faces of which face the axis of rotation. On the other hand, the tangents of said directrices at all points perpendicular to radius vectors extending from the axis 0 may form any desired angles greater than zero by giving to said directrices curvatures having their centers more or less remote from the axis O-as, for instance, at O O, which are the centers of the circles of which the pole-faces S N are segments.

The described arrangement of bipolar magnet and armature enables us to use various arrangements of contacts and various means for limiting the oscillations of the said armature. In Fig. 1 a contact-arm D D is secured to the pole-piece N of the armature, the portion D of which arm is made from a diamagnetic material and the outer or contact proper, D, of a material that is a good conductor of electricity, as iron. The underground conductor or feeder in this case is electrically connected through the screw-sgindle or bolt (1 of a sleeve d with a body of mercury M, contained in a cup B, constructed of an insulating material, which cup is secured in the bottom of the box A, so as to project into the same, and on the mercury M floats a second contact P, of carbon. It is obvious that when. a magnetic flux is set up in the box A K the armature A will be attracted by the box-poles and caused to revolve from left to right and that shortly after it begins to revolve the contact D will impinge upon the contact P to close the electric circuit. As the armature continues to move, the contact D descends, forcing the carbon-contact P into the body of mercury M until it is completely immersed therein and the contact D itself brought into direct contact with the said mercury M, thus improving the efficiency of contact until the armature has reached the limit of its movement from left to right. As soon as the magnetic flux is interrupted the armature will automatically return to its normal position, which may be broughtabout in various ways, as hereinafter explained.

As shown in Fig. 2, one of the circuit-contacts consists of a flat spring 7t, secured to the inner face of the pole-piece S of the armature, the other circuit-contact H consisting of a block of any suitable material that is a good conductor of electricity and which is electrically connected with the underground feeder through the conductive holder or cup Z) for said contact. When the armature is attracted and shortly after it begins to move from left to right, the free or contact end M of spring h will come in contact with the block H, and as said armature continues to revolve in that direction the pressure of the spring upon the block H willbeincreased, and at the same time a sliding movement toward the left will be imparted to said spring, thus perfecting the contact between the parts M H as the armature revolves to the limit of its movement in the direction referred to. As soon as the magnetic flux set up in the box A K is interrupted the armature A will antomatically return into its normal position.

In Figs. 3 and lwe have shown a contactcarrier in the form of a more or less elastic flat arm h, whose outer end 722 is bent inwardly and has a contact-block H secured thereto and cooperating with contact-block H to close the electric circuit. In this construction the pressure of the spring-arm is also increased as the armature revolves from left to right, as will be readily understood and for the purposes above stated.

In order that the armature A may be caused to return automatically to its normal position, its pole-piece S is or may be made heavier than its pole-piece N. In Figs. 1 and 2 this is accomplished by providing said polepiece with a stop 3, projecting from its left end face, which stop is adapted to contact with an inclined surface (6 of the box-bottom. In Fig. 3 the pole-piece S itself is made sufficiently heavy to overbalance the contact-carrier h, secured thereto, as well as the pole-piece N, while in Fig. 4 this is accomplished by a helicoidal spring E, whose ends are respectively connected to a boss a on the armature-shaft and to the bottom of the box A.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the pole-faces N S of the armature are segments or arcs of circles of smaller diameter than the circles of which the box-poles N and S are segments or arcs, so that when the movements of the armature from left to right are properly limited the said poles can never come into contact with one another, thus avoiding the frictional resistance which would result from said contact, and inasmuch as the electrical connection cannot be established between the armature and box when said armature is arranged as described we employ a suitable conductor, as a body of mercury L, Figs. 1 to 3, in the pole-face S of the box-bottom or the retracting-spring E, Fig. 4.

In either of the constructions described there is practically no resistance to the move ment of the armature from right to left, except such as is offered by the air in the box, while the resistance to its movement from left to right by the body of mercury L or by the spring E is comparatively slight. On the other hand the body of mercury L, owing to its greater specific gravity, materially assists the movement of the armature from right to left or to a normal or neutral position. To thus obtain an armature that is very sensitive to magnetic influences by reason of its having almost perfect freedom of motion.

Inasmuch as thebox andarmature-pole faces are not concentric except when said armaturepoles are in a given position relatively to the box-poles, and in order to limit the amplitude of the oscillatory movements of said armature from right to left, and thereby avoid the contact between the poles and the liability of the armature to stick fast, we provide a stop a in the form of a wedge-shaped projection at the end of the pole-face Sin box A and the pole-piece N of the armature with a downturned lip n.

Owing to the peculiar form of the armature and field-magnet pole-faces and the arrangement of the armature relatively to the fieldmagnet, and notwithstanding that the distance between the two decreases in proportion as the armature moves from a normal or neutral to an effective position, the armature pole-faces describe paths the length of which is considerably greater than the distance bctween the armature and field-magnet poles when said armature is in its normal or neutral position. It is therefore possible to use an armature having pole-faces of any desired extent and so arrange it relatively to the fieldmagnet poles that there will be a minimum distance between the two when said armature is in its neutral or normal position and impart to it a greater amplitude of motion than could be done by any other construction. Consequently we are enabled to employ contact devices of various forms as well as various means for returning the armature to a normal or neutral position, examples of which have hereinabove been described.

In practice the described electromagnetic circuit-closer is secured to a suitable support and preferably so connected with the underground feeder as to be readily disconnected therefrom, features which are shown in Figs. 5 to 7. The support consists of a bridge D, provided with bolt-bearings d for bolts 01 by means of which said bridge is secured to a suitable non-conductive base, as a block of wood or a cross-tie T. The top of the support is recessed and has an opening in its roof, at opposite sides of which are formed inwardly-projecting bolt flanges or ledges d, the cover of the bipolar box A K being provided with corresponding bolt-flanges for screw-bolts 70, by means of which said box is firmly secured to and suspended from the bridge, as shown.

By means of the described construction of support through-openings are provided on opposite sides of the circuit-closer box for the passage of the magnetic connecting-bars S S, that connect said box with the track-rails RR, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and whereby magnetic leakage between said box and the box-support is avoided, notwithstanding that the magnetic potential of the rods S S and that of the upper part or cover K of the box, and hence the whole of the box-support, differs.

In order that the contact-box may be removed from its support and from the underground feeder Z without disturbing the roadbed, we provide the connections shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In the block or cross-tie L is seated an angular or elbow coupling F, whose vertical here is enlarged into a cup for the reception of a body of mercury, through which extends asplit contact-pin q, of a more or less elastic conductive metal, to which pin the underground feeder Z is electrically connected. The sleeve B, of insulating material, secured in the box A and having the contact H secured in its upper end has its lower edges Z) made tapering to a wedge shape and projecting into the body of mercury Z in the coupling F. The conductive carrier 6 of the contact H is screwed into a conductive sleeve 6 in the sleeve B, that fits sufficiently tight onto the connecting-pin q to form a good contact, and it will readily be seen that by the means described the contact-box can be lifted out of its support I) and off the contact-pin g and replaced with great facility without disturbing the road-bed.

Any well-known means may be employed for setting up a magnetic current through the circuit-closer boxes to close the feeder-circuit. Thus, for instance, a third sectional rail can be used,beneath the sections of which the said boxes are arranged, so that when a magnetized bar on the car travels along said rail a magnetic current is set up whereby the feeder-circuit is closed, as described, the magnetic circuit being completed through the connecting-bars S S, the track-rails, carriagewheels, and metallic connections of or on the carriage with the magnets thereon, the current being taken from the rail-sections by a suitable brush traveling in contact therewith and connected, as usual, with the electric motor on the car.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. The combination with an underground electric feeder, an electrically conductive contact connected therewith, and a bipolar field-magnet having concave pole-faces; of a bipolar armature having corresponding convex pole-faces, said magnet-poles so located and said armature so arranged to oscillate between the magnet-poles that the latter will at no time be concentric with the armaturepoles except when said armature has assumed a predetermined or given position,and an electricallyconductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into contact with the feeder-contact, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with an underground electric feeder, an electrically conductive contact connected therewith, and a bipolar field-magnet having concave pole-faces; of a bipolar armature having convex pole-faces which latter as well as the field-magnet polefaees are arcs of circles of different diameters but having a common center, said magnet-poles so located and said armature so arranged to oscillate between the magnet-poles that the latter will at no time be concentric with the armature-poles except when said armature has assumed a predetermined or given position, an electrically-conductive contact adapted to be moved by said armature into and out of contact with the feeder-contact, and an electric connection between the armature controlled contact and said fieldmagnet, for the purpose set forth.

Thecombination with an electric underground feeder, an electrically conductive contact connected therewith, and a bipolar field-magnet; of abipolar armature arranged to oscillate between the field-magnet poles, an electrically-conductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feedercontact, and means for increasing the force or extent of contact during the oscillation of the armature in one direction, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with an underground electric feeder, an electricallyconductive contact connected therewith, and a bipolar field-magnet; of abipolar armature adapted to oscillate between the field-magnet poles, an electrically conductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feedercontact, an elastic or resilient conductive connection between the armature and the contact controlled thereby, a conductive liquid between the heavier armature-arm and its magnet and means for limiting the oscillations of said armature, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with an underground electric feeder, an electricallyconductive contact connected therewith, and a bipolar field-magnet having concave pole-faces; of a Z-shaped bipolar armature having convex pole-faces which latter and the magnet polefaces are arcs of circles of different diameters but having a common center, said magnet-poles so located and said armature so arranged to oscillate between the magnet-poles that the latter will at no time be concentric with the armature-poles except when said armature has assumed a predetermined orgiven position, an electrically-conductive co'ntact electrically connected with the armature and adapted to be moved thereby into and out of contact with the feeder-contact, an electrically-conductive connection between said armature and field-magnet, and means for limiting the oscillations of the armature, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with an underground electric feeder, an electricallyconductive contact, a conductive frictional connection between the two, and a bipolar field-magnet; of a bipolar armature adapted to oscillate between the magnet-poles, an electrically-conductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feeder-contact, stops at the ends of the faces on the armature and means for positively moving the armature to break contact, for the purpose set forth.

'7. The combination with an underground electric feeder, a bipolar field-magnet consisting of a box and cover magnetically insulated from but electrically connected with each other and provided with concave polefaces S and N respectively, and an electrically-conductive contact secured to but insulated from said box and connected with said underground feeder; of a bipolar magnet having convex pole-faces corresponding with the magnet-poles, the latter so located and the armature so arranged to oscillate between the magnet-poles that said magnet and arm attire-poles will at no time be concentric except when the armature assumes a predetermined or given position, an electrically-conductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feedercontact, and an electricallyconductive connection between said armature-controlled contact and the box part of the field-magnet, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with an underground electric feeder, a bipolar field-magnet con sisting of a box andcover magnetically insulated from but electrically connected with each other and provided with concave polefaces S and N respectively, an electricallyconductive liquid, as mercury, in said poleface S, and an electrically-conductive contact secured to but insulated from said box and connected with said underground feeder; of a bipolar magnet having convex pole-faces corresponding with the magnet-poles, the latter so located and the armature so arranged to oscillate between the magnet-poles that said magnet and armature poles will at no time be concentric except when the armature assumes a predetermined or given position, an electrically-conductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feeder-contact, and an electrically-conductive connection between said armature-controlled contact and the box part of the field-magnet, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination with an underground electric feeder, a bipolar field-magnet consisting of a box and its cover magnetically insulated but electrically connected together and provided with concave pole-faces S and N respectively, an electrically-conductive contact secured to but insulated from the box part and connected with said feeder; of an armaturehaving convex pole-faces which latter and the poles S N are arcs of circles of different diameter but having a common center, said magnet-poles so located and said armature s0 arranged to oscillate between the magnet-poles that the latter will at no time be concentric with the armature-poles except when said armature assumes a predetermined or given position, an electricallyconductive contact, a resilient conductive carrier therefor secured to the armature, said contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feedercontact, and an electrically-conductive connection between the armature and box part of the field-magnet, for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with an underground electric feeder, of circuit-closing devices comprising a bipolar field-magnet consisting essentially of a box and its cover magnetically insulated'from but electrically connected with each other, an electrically-conductive contact secured to but insulated from the box part of the field-magnet, an electrically-conductive friction connection between said contact and feeder, a bipolar armature arranged to oscillate between the poles of the box and its cover, and an electrically-00nductive contact adapted to be moved by the armature into and out of contact with the feeder-com tact, said armature-controlled contact electrically connected with one of the field-magnet poles, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination with an underground electric feeder and circuit closing devices comprising a bipolar field-magnet composedof a box and its cover magnetically insulated from but electrically connected with each other, an armature containedin and arranged to oscillate between the field-magnet poles, a contact controlled by the armature and ad apted to make and break the electrical connections between the feeder and one of the fieldmagnet poles 5 of a support for said field-magnet consisting of a bridge-like structure of magnetic material having an opening in its roof, and means for securing the field-magnet in said opening, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with the elbow-coupling F of insulating material and the underground feeder Z secured in the horizontal branch thereof, an electrically conductive liquid as mercury in the vertical branch of said coupling, and an electrically-conductive pin electrically connected with the feeder and extending through and beyond said conductive liquid; of the box field-magnet A K, its contact-sleeve of insulating material B, the contact H, its conductive carrier, and a conductive sleeve 6 connected with said carrier and adapted to fit conductively onto the aforesaid pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. The combination with the elbow-coupling F of insulating material and the underground feeder Z secured in the horizontal branch thereof, an electrically-conductive liquid as mercury in the vertical branch of said coupling, and an electrically-conductive split pin electrically connected with the feeder and extending through and beyond said couductive liquid; of the box field-magnet A K, its contact-sleeve of insulating material B, the contact I-I, its conductive carrier, and a conductive sleeve 6 connected with said carrier and adapted to fit condnctively onto the aforesaid pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination with field-magnets, of a bipolar armature rotatable between them, a feeder having a cup-shaped terminal and a contact carried by the bipolar magnet arranged to close circuit through a conductive liquid in said cup-shaped terminal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. The combination with field-magnets, of a bipolar armature rotatable between them, means for electrically connecting one of said magnets with the armature, a feeder secured in a cup-shaped terminal, a float and a conductive fluid therein, and a contact arranged to depress said float and close circuit through the liquid, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

RICOARDO ARNO. ARISTIDE GARAMAGNA. l/Vitnesses:

HUGO Przzorrr, RAFFAELE (MP0. 

